Historic Grand Prix proves to be unique event on 2020 motorsport calendar
The ninth Historic Grand Prix has turned out to be a special event on this year’s challenge-filled motorsport calendar. Co-organisers CM.com Circuit Zandvoort and HARC are proud that the event was able to take place on its planned date and even welcomed a limited number of spectators. The presence of a crowd created an old-fashioned atmosphere – and the on-track action was of similar old-school class.
The Historic Grand Prix was the first major international event to take place on a circuit newly renovated to accommodate for the return of the Dutch Grand Prix. As the inaugural comeback GP was postponed until 2021, it was therefore impossible for Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton to set a new official lap record on the renovated circuit.
▲ Foto: Essay Produkties
In fact, that record is now held by Masters Historic Formula One (MHF1) driver Mike Cantillon who in his Williams FW07C set a best lap time of 1.31.977 in the Historic Grand Prix weekend’s second MHF1 race. The Irishman could remain the new 4.259 km circuit’s lap record holder well into 2021.
▲ Foto: Rick Smulders Fotografie
Actually, Cantillon wasn’t the first new lap record holder, as on Saturday Jack Dex produced a fastest lap of 1.33.395 in the first of two Aston Martin Masters Endurance Legends (AMMEL) races on the weekend. He did so in the BR01, an LMP2 machine from the crop of 1995-2015 Le Mans cars that made their Zandvoort debut at the Historic Grand Prix.
▲ Foto: Rick Smulders Fotografie
The second AMMEL race was won by David Hart and Nicky Pastorelli in the Maserati MC12 GT1, a victory contributing to Hart Sr’s perfect Sunday, as the Dutchman managed to claim three victories from three starts. In the morning he had already won the Masters Gentlemen Drivers race sharing his Bizzarrini 5300 GT with son Olivier while later on the day he would (again with Pastorelli) lift Masters Historic Sports Cars honours, this time driving a Lola T70 Mk3B.
▲ Foto: Essay Produkties
In terms of entry numbers, but also in terms of spectacle, co-organiser HARC provided the two of the most exciting grids of the event. The RECO NK GTTC brought no less than 53 cars, all battling each other from front to back, while the same held true for the HARC NK82-90’s 41 cars.
▲ Foto: Justin van Densen – Essay Produkties
The spectators were similarly happy with the generous contribution coming from Germany, the undoubted crowd favourite being the 100 Meilen Trophy for big seventies sports cars. Both its races saw a lead battle that lasted until the end – on Saturday, Felix Haas (Lola T294) fought tooth and nail with Georg Hallau (T310) while on Sunday Hallau’s Lola was in fierce competition with another Can-Am car, Peter Schleifer’s magnificent McLaren M8F.
▲ Foto: Rick Smulders Fotografie
Entrants as well as visitors were able to look back on three fun-filled days of historic motorsport taking place in glorious late-summer weather – except for the occasional burst of rain. More than in other years still, the Historic Grand Prix offered a nostalgic break from our hectic modern times – and yet we hope that the tenth edition in 2021 will once more be held in normal circumstances, with plenty of space for both drivers and spectators to enjoy themselves to the maximum.
